Test results mixed

The latest round of federal testing is good news for Frankfort Independent Schools and a disappointment for Franklin County Schools. The Kentucky Department of Education released data from the federal No Child Left Behind Act on its Web site today. NCLB uses reading and math scores from the state's testing system to determine if individual schools and school districts meet Adequate Yearly Progress standards. The goal of NCLB is to have all schools reach proficiency by 2014. For 2007, the city school system met its 10 target goals. County schools fell short as a district, meeting 14 out of 16 target goals. Target goals in reading and math are set based on school subpopulations " gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic level and special education students. "Are we happy? No. Are we satisfied? No," FCPS Assistant Superintendent Chrissy Jones said. "For three consecutive years we have not met AYP in reading and math." Because the district failed to meet AYP for the third time, it is classified as a Tier 2 school district. Under Tier 2 NCLB consequences, schools must allow students a choice of which school to attend, revise the school plan and offer supplemental services. As a district, FCPS failed to meet state-defined standards for students with disabilities and three schools " Peaks Mill Elementary, Bondurant Middle School and Elkhorn Middle School " failed to meet target goals. "We anticipated these would be the three schools (to fail to meet goals)," Superintendent Harrie Lynne Buecker said. "We weren't surprised, we knew and that's why we've been making preparations." Buecker said part-time consultants have been hired at each of the three schools to offer ongoing support for improving academic performance. FCPS Communications Coordinator Wayne Dominick said the district also spent a great deal of time reviewing and realigning curriculum to better prepare students for exams. "This summer there was a big concentration on curriculum," he said. "What's on the test is what they're (students) supposed to know." Jones said administrators and staff must delve into what's stopping the three low-performing schools from attaining proficiency. She said one possible reason both middle schools missed goals was because of high staff turnover. For FISD both Frankfort High and Second Street School attained AYP. "All of our school met target goals," FISD Assistant Superintendent Marcy Pierce said. Schools are given a standard area of measurement based on where they score on the exams. Pierce said principals analyze the data with staff members to determine programs and develop curriculum to keep the district at its AYP goals. While the city district met all target goals, Pierce said there is room for improvement. "In math we did well, but we need to do better." Pierce said intervention programs are needed to help the African-American and free/reduced lunch populations at FHS improve low math scores and the free/reduced lunch students at SSS to improve low reading scores. Educators in both districts caution against comparing results from previous years to the latest because the tests are being realigned. Jones said the county school district is going to make adjustments so students know how they must perform. "Ultimately, I think we're going to have to raise our expectations for all students," she said. How they did >Frankfort Independent Schools met 10 out of 10 target goals and made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). >Franklin County Schools met 14 of 16 goals, 87.5 percent, and failed to make AYP. Three county schools " Bondurant Middle, Elkhorn Middle and Peaks Mill Elementary, failed to meet all target goals. >To view district or individual results for each school, visit the Kentucky Department of Education's Web site at www.education.ky.gov.